Cost of fruit ‘hits high’

Affected by environmental and wider sociocultural issues, fruit price inflation ‘rose significantly’ in June - up 5.2% month-on-month - while sugar was down 8.4% against May.

Accounting the ‘adverse’ weather of late for hindering growth of fruit in many ‘key’ areas across the UK, CGA and Prestige added: “Much of Europe has suffered from similar issues, preventing imports from providing any price relief.”

Despite the fact that sugar crops have also been hit by recent adverse growing conditions in Europe, Brazil and Australia, “any impacts have been offset by bumper crops in India.”

Shaun Allen, Prestige Purchasing chief executive, commented: “While inflation in the foodservice sector has eased back for the first time since February, the recent hot weather across the UK and Europe looks set to affect a number of food products, particularly produce and crops, which could potentially lead to a longer term impact on meats due to feed shortages.

“The tariff changes in the US add further pressure and uncertainty into what is already a volatile market.”